Hydrant.



PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

D. F. O'BRIEN.

2 SHEETS-SHEET ll No. 795,057. I PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

- 1), F. '0BRIEN.

'HYDRANT.

APPLICATION IILED JUNE 21. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Qmi/bvwam V aywmitoz I w pe/@ 4, @31 drr fl [a MK UNITED STATES Patented July 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

DENIS F. OBRIEN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

HYDRANT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 795,057, dated July 18, 1905.

Application filed June 21, 1904:. Serial No. 213,454.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DENIS F. OBRIEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydrants, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in the valve mechanism of fire-hydrants of the kind generally known as compression-hydrants, so called because therein the main valve, which controls communication between the water-main and the hydrant stand-pipe, is in its opening and closing movements moved endwise by its spindle or longitudinally of the stand-pipe and is opened against the pressure of the water-main and closed with the assistance of such pressure.

As a full understanding of the present invention can best be had from a detailed description of an organization embodying the same, such description will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a firehydrant of the compression type embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a detail, in vertical section and on an enlarged scale, illustrating the main-valve spindle and the manner in which it is mounted and operated. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the valvecasing at the lower end of the hydrant, showing the main-valve mechanism in its seated or closed position. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating the valve mechanism in its open position. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the main-valve mechanism partly open. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 of Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate modifications in the construction of the main-valve mechanism, which will be hereinafter referred to.

Referring to said drawings, 1 represents the stand-pipe, as it is termed, of the hydrant, which is provided with a plurality of hose-nozzles, only one of which, however, (designated 2,) is shown, these nozzles being controlled by gate-valves, as 3 4. These nozzles are of improved construction, but need not be further described, as they are described in and constitute the su bject-matter of another application filed by me April 24, 1905, Serial No. 257 ,264. In these drawings also 5 indicates the main valve casing, 6 the cap or hood of the hydrant, and 7 the main valve, which is of peculiar construction, while8 represents the main-valve seat, formed in an exteriorly-threaded ring 9, screwed into the mainvalve casing, said main valve 7 being also provided with vertical guides 10 forguiding it to and from its seat while the valve is being closed or opened. The valve mechanism includes a spindle 11, connected to the valve 7 in the manner hereinafter described, and an actuating-spindle 12, threaded at its upper end for connection with the turning-nut 13 and connected at its lower end with the spindle 11 in such way, as shown in Fig. 2,

as to provide a small amount of lost motion between the two spindles, adapting the spindle 12 to move endwise relatively to the spindle 11 before the main valve 7 is opened and also after it has been closed. The spindle 12, as will be observed, passes through an opening in the head 14 of the hydrant and a stufling-box 15 above the same, and the turning-nut 13 is held from endwise movement by a flange 16, engaging the under face of a flange 17 on the nut, and by a retaining-nut 18, engaging the upper face of the flange 17, the nut 13 projecting through the cap or hood 6 and its projecting end being squared for the reception of a monkey-wrench, by which it is turned in either direction. The lower end of the spindle 12 is connected with the spindle 11 by means of a yoke-shaped downwardly-projecting bracket 19, having a squared central opening at its lower end fitting over the similarly-shaped upper end of the spindle 11, the connection being such as to permit of a limited amount of endwise movement of the spindle 12 relatively to the spindle 11. This endwise movement of the spindle 12 relatively to the spindle 11 is limited in a downward direction by engagementof the extreme upper end 20 of the spindle 11 with the upper end of bracket 19 and in the opposite direction by a nut 21 and a spring 22, coiled about the upper end of the spindle between the ,nut 21 and the lower end of bracket 19.

Referring now to the main valve 7 constituting the present invention, it will be observed that it is made in two parts movable relatively to each other during the opening and closing movements of the valve. The outer member or major portion 23 of this twopart valve 7 bears against the valve-seat 8, while the inner member or minor portion 24 of the valve is secured to the lower end of the spindle 11, and when said spindle is moved endwise is movable to and from a seat 25, provided for it in the under side of the member 23 of the valve, as best illustrated in Fig. 5. The valve-seat 25 for the inner member or auxiliary valve 24 is formed at the lower end of a central opening 26 in the valve member 23, and to provide for the accurate movement of the valve member 24 to and from seat 25 said valve member 24 is provided with a sleeve 27, inclosing the lower end of the spindle 11 and having two pairs of guides 27 27", the former of which bear against the wall of the opening 26 and the latter of which move in vertical guideways 28, provided in the wall of said opening, as shown in Fig. 6. These guides 27 27", coacting with the sleeve 27, guide the main and auxiliary valves 7 24 in their relative vertical or up and down movements, and at the same time they prevent lateral movement of one relatively to the other under the water-pressure, the guides 27 coacting with the vertical guideways 28 also preventing movement rotarily of one valve relatively to the other by the pressure or movement of the water. The valve member 23 is caused to move upwardly at the proper time with the spindle 11 and the auxiliary valve 24 by the engagement of the latter with said valve member 23, and said valve member 23 is caused to move downwardly with the spindle 11 at the proper time by engagement with the upper surface thereof of lugs 29, projecting radially from a collar 30, mounted upon the spindle 11 between a shoulder 31 thereon and the upper end of the sleeve 27.

The operation of the valve mechanism as thus far described is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the position illustrated in Figs. land 3, to open the main valve the turningnut 13 will be turned in the proper direction to move the spindle 12 downward. During the first part of the downward movement of the spindle 12 it will be moved relatively to the spindle 11 until the bracket 19 comes in contact with the end 20 of spindle 11, the spring 22 during such movement expanding. The movement of spindle 12 being continued beyond this point, the spindle 11 will be moved downward by it, thus unseating the auxiliary valve 24, or, in other words, moving it downwardly away from the valve member 23 to the position shown in Fig. 5. This downward movement of the auxiliary valve 24 will of course be resisted by the pressure in the valve-casing 2 and in the water-main; but as the area of this auxiliary valve is'small the resistance oflered to its downward movement will be correspond.- ingly small, so that but comparatively little force has to be applied to the spindles 11 12 in order to give it its downward movement. When the auxiliary valve 24 reaches its downward or open position relatively to the valve member 23, communication will be opened between the main and the stand-pipe 1 through the central opening 26 in the valve member 23 and the pressure on opposite sides of said valve member 23 thereby equalized, so that the movement of said valve member 23 from its seat by further movement of the valvespindles 11 12 will be a comparatively easy operation, requiring the application of but little force to said spindles. This movement of the valve member 23 downwardly and away from its seat is continued until said valve member 23 is fully opened, or, in other Words, until said valve member 23 and auxiliary valve 24 occupy the positions in which they are illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the auxiliary valve rests against an upward projection or stop 32, formed in the valve-casing 5. The downward movement of the valve member, it will be understood, is accomplished upon the downward movement of the spindle 11 by the engagement of the radial projecting lugs 29, mounted upon said spindle, with the upper surface of the valve member 23. It will also be understood that after the valve member 23 has been moved a certain distance from its seat gravity will cause said valve member 23 to move downwardly along the spindle l1 and away from the lugs 29 and into engagement with the auxiliary valve 24, as illustrated in Fig. 4. By reason of this construction it will be observed, as above indicated, that because of the small area of the auxiliary valve 24 but little force is required to move it against the pressure in the water-main, so as to open communication between the main and the stand-pipe 1, and when such communication is thus established between the water-main and stand-pipe the pressure upon opposite sides of the valve member 23 is equalized, so that the movement of said valve member 23 can be accomplished with the expenditure of but little force.

The operation of closing the main-valve mechanism that is to say, moving the two members 23 and 24 from the position in which they are shown in Fig. 3is as follows: This upward or closing movement of the main valve mechanism is accomplished by turning the nut 13 in the opposite direction, thus moving the spindle 12 upward. During the first part of this upward movement of the spindle 12 the spindle 11 will move therewith, the two spindles being caused to abut by the spring 22 and traveling one. During the major portion of this upward movementof the spindle 11 the valve member 23 and auxiliary valve 24 will occupy the positions relatively to each other in which they are illustrated in Fig. 4. When the valve member 23, however, approaches to within a short distance of its seat 8, the current of water passing through the narrow annular space between the valve member 23 and its seat has such lifting force as to lift the valve 23 relatively to valve 24 until its upward movement is arrested by the lugs 29, the valve members being then in the same relative position shown in Fig. .5. Theclosing movement of the valve being continued, the valve member 23 is brought gently in contact with its seat 8. Communication between the main and the stand-pipe 1 will then continue through the opening 26 in the valve member 23 until the valve member 24 is by the continued movement of the valve-spindle 11 gradually brought into contact with its seat 25 or into the position illustrated in Fig. 3, the seating of the valve member 23 and of the auxiliary valve 24 being accomplished easily and gradually and without objectionable water-hammer.

By reason of these improvements in the construction of the valve mechanism not only are the objections overcome which are encountered in the use of prior compressionhydrants in low-pressure water systems, but compression-hydrants are made capable of use in high-pressure water systems.

The construction of main valve may be varied widely from that shown and described without departing from the present invention. I prefer, however, the construction of main valve illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, in which the inner member or auxiliary valve 24 is secured to the spindle in such a way that it may be readily and quickly removed or disconnected from the spindle and the outer member 23 of the valve when desired for the purpose of repair or otherwise. All that it is necessary to do in order to so remove or disconnect the auxiliary valve 24 is to unscrew the nut 33 from the lower end of the spindle 11, when said valve and also the outer member 23 of the valve may be readily slipped off the spindle 11.

If desired, such a construction as that illustrated in Fig. 7 may be adopted, the construction therein illustrated diflering from that of Figs. 1 to 6 mainly in the interposition between the outer member 23 of the main valve and the inner member or auxiliary valve 24 of a spring 34, bearing against the under side of the valve member 23 and the upper side of a flange 35, with which the nut 33 is provided; the tendency of which spring is to separate the valves. The purpose of this spring is to avoid any possibility of shock due to abrupt movement of one member of the valve relatively to the other, though under ordinary conditions of pressure the possibility of such shock would be very remote.

Another construction of valve mechanism which might be adopted is that illustrated in Fig. 8, in which the auxiliary valve 24 is screw-threaded to the lower end of a plug 36, which passes through the valve member 23 and is in turn screw-threaded and also pinned to the lower end of the spindle 11.

What I claim is 1. In acompression-hydrant, the combination with a suitable stand-pipe, a main valve and an auxiliary valve controlling communication between the water-main and the lower end of said stand-pipe, said auxiliary valve being movable with and also to and from the main valve and closing an opening therethrough, a manually-operated spindle extending upwardly through the stand-pipe, connections between said spindle and said valves whereby upon the movement of the spindle in one direction said auxiliary valve and then said main valve are positively forced downwardly by the spindle against the pressure of the main and when said spindle is moved in the opposite direction said valves are positively drawn upwardly by the spindle so as to shut off communication between the main and the stand-pipe and connections between said valves for guiding them in their up and down relative movements and preventing relative movements thereof rotarily or laterally, substantially as described.

2. In acompression-hydrant, the combination with a suitable stand-pipe, a main valve and an auxiliary valve controlling communication between the water-main and the lower end of said stand-pipe, said auxiliary valve being movable'with and also to and from the main valve and closing a central opening there through, a manually-operated spindle extending upwardly through the stand-pipe, connections between said spindle and said valves whereby upon the movement of the spindle in one direction said auxiliary valve and then said main valve are positively forced downwardly by the spindle against the pressure of the main and when saidspindle is moved in the opposite direction said valves are positively drawn upwardly by the spindle so as to shut oif communication between the main and the stand-pipe and connections between said valves for guiding them in their up and down relative movements and preventing relative movements thereof rotarily or laterally, substantially as described.

3. In a compression-hydrant, the combination with a suitable stand-pipe, a main valve and an auxiliary valve controlling communication between the water-main and the lower end of said stand-pipe, said auxiliary valve being movable with and also to and from the main valve and closing an opening therethrough, a spring interposed between and tending to separate said valves, a manuallyoperated spindle extending upwardly through the stand-pipe, connections between said spindle and said valves whereby upon the movement of the spindle in one direction said auxiliary valve and then said main valve are positively forced downwardly by the spindle against the pressure of the main and When said actuating mechanism is moved in the opposite direction said valves are positively drawn upwardly by the spindle so as to shut off communication between the main and the stand-pipe and connectionsbetween said valves for guiding them in their up and down relative movements and preventing relative movements thereof rotarily or laterally, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

DENIS F. OBRIEN.

Witnesses:

T. F. KEHoE, G. M. BoRsE. 

